The past week has been a crazy week for us UK’ers, and not to mention the weather! I still try to train my client outside, it’s tough at the best of times, but when it’s raining it really makes it harder.

It’s cold, it’s wet, it’s windy, it’s just hard to get out of bed let alone charging around a park with your favourite exercise routine. For those of you finding it hard motivate yourself when it’s wet or cold, there are a few exercises you can do at home with common household items.

You are ultimately responsible for the success of your exercise program. Exercise takes discipline and hard work. There are no shortcuts to success!

Remember to always warm up! Never start to exercise straight out of bed. Walk around a little, jog lightly on the spot or go up and down the stairs a few times get the blood flowing.

Stretching is as important as the exercise itself. To avoid injury always warm-up, stretch, exercise and cool down. Here are some stretching tips.

Try this light upper body workout at home, you can use bottles of water (fill the bottles with sand to increase the weight), tins of food or bags of rice, sugar or flower as weights:

Military Press

This exercise strengthens and tones your shoulders.

1. Hold the weights over your shoulders
2. Raise the weights by extending your arms, then lower to starting position

Lightly hold the weights in your hands don't squeeze or strain) over your shoulders with your palms facing forward.

Raise the weights straight up over your head then lower their elbows to 90 degrees (until the weights are approximately ear level). Repeat 10 times (20 times if you can).

Chest Press

The Chest Press will tone and firm your chest.

1. Lie down on the floor or a weight bench (a table also works nicely as a substitute)
2. Begin with your elbows parallel to your shoulders and the weights at chest level
3. Raise the weights straight up, touching them together but not clanging them. Then lower the weights to the starting position and repeat again 10 times (20 times if you can)

Flys

Like chest presses Flys will help keep your chest taut. They also help tone your arm muscles.

1. Lie down on the floor or a weight bench (a table also works as a good substitute)
2. Start with your arms straight out with your elbows slightly bent
3. keeping the same bend in your elbow, raise your arms so that they meet above you

Repeat 10 times (20 times if you can).